Friday 3 May 2019 15:56, UK
Thousands of fans and many football greats gathered to pay an emotional farewell to Celtic legend Billy McNeill in Glasgow.
A funeral mass for the captain of the famous 'Lisbon Lions' took place at St Aloysius Church in the city centre on Friday.
The cortege then made its way to Celtic Park, where thousands of supporters gathered around his statue outside the stadium.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former Celtic managers Sir Kenny Dalglish, Martin O'Neill, Gordon Strachan and Brendan Rodgers were all in attendance to pay tribute
McNeill, who won 31 trophies as player and manager for Celtic, died last week at the age of 79 after suffering from dementia for a number of years.
Fellow Lisbon Lions Bobby Lennox, John Clark, Jim Craig, Bertie Auld and Willie Wallace were present, while Murdo MacLeod, Tommy Coyne and Pat Bonner - who played under McNeill for Celtic - were also among the mourners.
Former Rangers managers Walter Smith and John Greig, along with Gordon Smith, Willie Henderson were in attendance.
Ahead of the funeral service, which was broadcast live on a large screen outside Celtic Park, the McNeill family expressed their gratitude for the kind messages they have received over the past week.
A statement read: "They have cheered us up tremendously at this difficult time.
"The love and affection shown towards our father is nothing short of amazing and is something we will never forget.
"Our father always made time for the fans and knew how important they are so we would like to send an open invite to help us pay our respects to him."
Aberdeen, who McNeill managed between 1977-78, were represented by Willie Miller, Craig Brown and Alex McLeish as well as current manager Derek McInnes.
As he began his homily, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia offered sympathies to McNeill's wife of 56 years, Liz, and his five children and eight grandchildren.
He said: "We are aware that Billy had a few hard years with his health before he died, which he endured with dignity and courage, but now he is at peace."
The archbishop described McNeill as "captain of a team of legends".
He added: "As a 16-year-old boy, I watched with overflowing joy as Billy and his Lions lifted the European Cup. Never for a moment did I imagine that I would be conducting his Funeral Mass.
"I assure Liz and her family that it is a great honour for me to do so."
McNeill's funeral took place exactly 44 years after his last appearance for the club in the 1975 Scottish Cup final.
Celtic's players will wear McNeill's former number five on their shorts when they face Hearts in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on May 25.
